newjerseynewsroom.com

Craig Scott, the man convicted in the 2007 murders of Joel Ferguson Jr., 17, and Naeem Jackson, 15, in Newark had to be reprimanded by a court bailiff as the father of one of his victim's addressed the court, The Star-Ledger reported.

As Joel Ferguson, Sr., spoke to the court about his murdered son, Joel Jr., Scott rubbed salt into the man's wounds by repeatedly cursing at and talking back to the grieving father.

Scott, of 12th Avenue in Newark, is a member of notorious street gang, the Crips. Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Simonetti said Scott killed Ferguson and Jackson July 13, 2007 after they came to the aid of a friend who was being assaulted by Scott and a group of thugs.

Scott kicked and stomped the teens before shooting them near Mount Vernon Place and Ellery Avenue as they tried to run away. Scott, whose nickname is "murder," was sentenced Thursday to consecutive life sentences (150 years) by Judge Michael L. Ravin.

Judge Ravin added 6-months to Scott's prison terms for his assault on surviving victim, Joseph McKinney, 16, the boy Ferguson and Jackson tried to help after Scott and Winkey beat him up. The Newark resident thought the shirt McKinney was wearing represented a rival gang.

Four others were charged in the double homicide and beating. Three, including Winkey, were later convicted of lesser charges Fuquan Cromwell, 24, and James Grate, 22. A fifth defendant, Michael Thompson, was later killed in an unrelated crime.

— ALICIA CRUZ, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM